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“Topping-Off” Ceremony Marks Major Milestone in Construction of New Ross Street School #11

Mayor John E. McCormac & Woodbridge Township School District Facilities Improvement Project Announce Ground-Breaking and Start-of-Construction Of New Ross Street School #11 and WMS Renovation Project

(Woodbridge Township) - Mayor John E. McCormac and members of the Woodbridge Township School Facilities Improvement Project, Board of Education and Municipal Council, community leaders, educators and students gathered for a ‘Topping-Off’ ceremony to mark the completion of the steel construction phase of the new $30 million Ross Street School #11 in downtown Woodbridge. As part of the ‘Topping-Off’ ceremony, attendees, including the Fifth Grade Class at Ross Street School #11, signed the structural steel beam before being hoisted into place and secured atop the buildings frame. It is fitting that today we are well on the way to completing construction of the first new school in Woodbridge in more than 50 years. The ‘Topping-Off’ ceremony represents the unwavering commitment by the Township Administration, Municipal Council, School Board and District Administration, educators and residents to improve the future of education for all students in Woodbridge,” said Mayor McCormac.;We are proud to be able to work together to make our schools ‘the best they can be – not only in appearance - but in the quality of education received by each and every student. Joining Mayor McCormac to announce the Ross Street School #11 ‘Topping-Off’ ceremonies were Dr. Robert Zega, Superintendent, Woodbridge Township School District, Municipal Councilpersons Nancy Drumm and Greg Ficarra, Board of Education member Joseph Velez, Ross Street School #11 Principal Tammy Giordano and Students, along with representatives of DOBCO Construction, Iron Workers Local #11 and LAN Associates (Project Architect). Our goal is to create students who are life-long learners and it starts in an environment that fits their learning style, said Dr. Robert Zega, Superintendent of Woodbridge Schools. “By providing a new, modern learning environment that is engaging and interactive, our teachers can play to the strengths of students’ learning style.”

Mayor McCormac and Dr. Zega noted that Ross Street School #11 - the second oldest school in the district - was built in 1920. The new three-story, 87,000 square foot Ross Street School #11 is centered around a large atrium courtyard providing natural light and a connection to nature. The courtyard houses a small amphitheater for outdoor lessons, several ‘living learning’ gardens and seating areas for reading and eating. The school promotes various break-out spaces and flexible learning environments for a variety of learning styles, while equipped with state-of-the-art photovoltaics combined with daylighting strategies to reduce overall energy consumption. Construction of Ross Street School #11 is anticipated to be finished for the start of the 2020 school year.